PHUKET, THAILAND – A foreign tourist perched on the unguarded roof edge of an abandoned eight-storey shell, dangling his legs and posing for photos. A horrified local filmed the stunt and warned: “This is dangerous, very dangerous.”
The video shows the man on the top floor of the concrete ruin, both legs dangling over the void. A Thai resident recorded the scene and could be heard shouting a warning.
Tourist filmed dangling legs from rooftop
The footage shows the man seated on the uppermost floor of the concrete skeleton, both legs swinging over the drop. In the background a Thai voice immediately recognises the danger and yells.
What happens if this foreigner falls? Don’t do things like that! This is dangerous, very dangerous.
said a Thai resident who recorded the video.
Residents uploaded the clip to social media. It spread rapidly and was picked up by several Thai news outlets.
Death trap with no safety barriers
The building project has been abandoned for more than four years. No protective walls or balcony railings exist on any of the eight floors – just exposed steel rods and piles of construction materials on the ground floor.
In the past, a Thai citizen died after falling from the same roof. Locals repeatedly bring up the death to scare off sightseers.
Vendors keep an eye on the site
The landowner allows stalls at the entrance. In return, vendors are supposed to watch the abandoned building. They spotted the foreign group as they walked onto the property.
Whether the vendors intervened is unclear from reports. The site has no fence and is open to anyone.
Residents sound the alarm
Locals are urging both Thai and foreign visitors to stay away from the decaying structure. Aside from the high risk of injury, anyone entering without permission faces trespassing charges.
No official action has been taken against the tourist in the photograph. It is not known whether the owner has been informed or whether authorities will follow up.